This entry brought to you by a busy day at work!

Past couple of days into the New Year have been a blur that I am hopeful into assuming that this year will be one hell of a ride. In chronological order:

a) I was passed over for promotion; reiterating my earlier point that I am not so smart, maybe book smart but not street, or office smart. It's even made worse because the people that were promoted do not have any formal legal training whatsoever, then why did I bother learning Transfer Pricing and Kompetenz-Kompetenz last year when a street smart person will overtake me every time.

b) Argued with my plastic surgeon just because I told her that if incidental costs arise from her failure to exercise due diligence I shall not be responsible for covering those costs. She thought that was "adversarial". I told her that was street-smart. She eventually overpowered me, and we changed the sentence to incidental and future costs may arise. See, even when I am street-smart I still don't win.

c) In between sulking about situations a) and b) above, I went on a shopping spree, bought the Coach boots I have been longing for, and $150 dollars worth of sweaters and pants - shopping frenzy. It was shopping madness in my closet.

d) Then, I fell ill. I am to refrain from painkillers and any sort of over-the-counter drugs until my surgery but instead I fell ill. I have serious nasal congestion. Did not step out of the house over the weekend, did not even get a chance to wear my new clothes, or sample some more New Year sales. Eventually I had to take some over-the-counter drugs, apparently you need your ID to buy any decongestant drug. I feel slightly better, not excellent. Hopefully, this will not deter the scheduled surgery.

e) At work today they announced the promotions and we had to smile and clap and pretend the same way Oscar losers feel when someone else's name is announced. And then she announced that she will be recruiting for a position above ours, instead of promoting those of us at the bottom, she will recruit for a new person and instantly they are several levels ahead of you, isn't that sad. I kept thinking, it took me a whole weekend and lots of shopping to get over this disappointment, now you have to go announce it again, and rub it in some more. I am just in mid-complacency and lackadaisical attitude right now. I will do my job but I will not strive to excel at it. This is the most-efficient I have ever been and still it's not paying off, so what gives then?

I cannot seem to win. I may take the Bar, pass it (God willing) and still not be street-smart enough to get to where I need to be. It takes a lot. Success is when opportunity and preparation meet, and I have both yet still, success just flies right by me.

Here's to a hopeful 2008!